Bullpups Battle at Junction City Invite
Burkes and Leathers Capture Silver Medals
The McPherson High School wrestling team brought home a pair of silver medals from the 2026 Junction City Boys Varsity Invite as Madison Burkes (120 lbs) and Carter Leathers (285 lbs) each reached championship matches.
Burkes pinned his way to the finals with victories over Salina-Central and Silver Lake before dropping a tight 9-7 decision to North Kansas City's Mohammad Mahboobi. Leathers dominated the heavyweight bracket with three consecutive pins, including a 57-second quarterfinal victory, before falling to Silver Lake's Carter Spreer in the title match.
Several Bullpups contributed wins throughout the tournament, with Carter Boesker (157 lbs) picking up three consolation victories and Jacob Magnall (132 lbs) and Noah Garcia (113 lbs) each recording multiple wins.
Individual Results
106 — Julian Moore (1-2): 2.0 pts. W by dec. over Kirwan, Shawnee Heights (7-0). L to Londono, Salina-South (fall, 1:37).
113 — Noah Garcia (13-7): 5.5 pts. W by TF over Whitley, Concordia (18-2); W by fall over Gomez, Topeka (2:43). L to Shields, Wichita-North (dec., 10-7).
120 — Madison Burkes (12-9): 2nd, 20.0 pts. W by fall over Fuller, Salina-Central (1:07); W by fall over Cormier, Silver Lake (1:56). L to Mahboobi, North Kansas City (dec., 9-7).
126 — Nathan Prescott (3-9): 0.0 pts. L to Easterberg, Riley County (fall, 2:55).
132 — Jacob Magnall (11-11): 6.0 pts. W by fall over Sullivan, Riley County (0:49); W by fall over VanAllen, Salina-Central (4:18). L to Niedfeldt, Shawnee Heights (fall, 2:15).
144 — Keaton Crane (14-11): 6.5 pts. W by TF over Espada, Salina-Central (18-3); W by fall over Alvarado, Junction City (1:40). L to Morales, Valley Center (SV-1, 12-9).
150 — Baylor Boesker (4-9): 3.0 pts. W by MFF over Wogomon, Concordia. L to Riffel, SE of Saline (fall, 0:50).
157 — Carter Boesker (4-12): 7.0 pts. W by fall over Alarcon, Salina-Central (2:52); W by dec. over Gentz, Herington (2-0); W by fall over Allison, Riley County (4:25). L to Owens, Shawnee Heights (fall, 1:18).
165 — Mason Miller (11-13): 3.0 pts. W by fall over Waters, Topeka (1:00). L to Converse, Shawnee Heights (fall, 4:18).
175 — Colt Harlin (2-11): 3.0 pts. W by fall over Friesen, SE of Saline (4:26). L to Alvarado, Wichita-North (fall, 4:31).
285 — Carter Leathers (18-7): 2nd, 20.0 pts. W by fall over Morales, Valley Center (0:57); W by fall over Florence, Junction City (5:33). L to Spreer, Silver Lake (fall, 1:56).
Greg Loving
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